Alberta's premier will be returning to the Foothills this month. United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith will be holding an Okotoks members-only town hall at the Saskatoon Farm on Sept. 19 alongside Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson, the provincial agriculture minister. Similar town halls have been held throughout Alberta over the last few months, including recent stops in Airdrie, where Smith discussed healthcare, and Drayton Valley, where a plan to transfer control of some hospitals from Alberta Health Services (AHS) was shared. The town halls come ahead of the UCP's leadership review, with a vote by the membership set for Nov. 2 at the party’s annual convention in Red Deer.

"The premier is touring the province right now to hear questions and concerns from members. We are looking forward to hosting a town hall in the Highwood area," wrote Highwood UCP constituency association president Don Herring in a statement. "As for other stops, the premier will likely tour the community and visit with residents during her visit," he continued. There are no other events or meetings in Okotoks on the premier's public itinerary at this time. The premier's office did not respond to a request for comment on the town hall or the premier's agenda while in Okotoks.

EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith is defending making a string of policy announcements at private United Conservative Party events, saying Albertans shouldn't be surprised by her agenda. When asked why she's not offering the details to all Albertans, Smith says she regularly talks with them on her call-in radio show and says it's no secret she takes guidance from party members. She says Albertans shouldn't be caught off guard by any of the laws her government plans to introduce when the legislature convenes in the fall. Last month, Smith told a UCP town hall she could transfer the operation of some Alberta Health Services-run hospitals to third parties to create fear and competition as part of her health restructuring plan. At similar events, Smith has offered details of provincial policing ambitions and said she's waiting to pass controversial transgender policies before allowing into her caucus an Independent legislature member who has made disparaging comments about transgender youth. When asked whether she's worried about being seen to curry favour with her party's right-wing base ahead of a November leadership review, Smith says Albertans shouldn't be surprised by her policies because they are grounded in conservative principles.

EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith is defending recent policy announcements at private party events, saying Albertans are kept in the know and shouldn't be caught off guard by her agenda. Asked by reporters why she's not offering those details to all Albertans, Smith said she is already in touch with them regularly. "I talk to Albertans every two weeks on the (call-in) radio show, and I am always telling them about things that are being proposed. I don't think I've made any secret out of the fact that I take what our (party) members give us as guidance seriously," Smith said Tuesday. She said her government consults with stakeholders and said Albertans shouldn't be surprised by any of the bills her government introduces when the legislature convenes in late October. Last month, Smith told a United Conservative party town hall she is looking to transfer the operation of some Alberta Health Services-run hospitals to third parties, including faith-based operator Covenant Health, to create fear and competition as part of her health restructuring plan. That plan drew the ire of New Democrat Leader Naheed Nenshi, who said at the time the premier's silence in public indicated the government was either scared the plan wouldn't be popular or that it suggested policy was being crafted in an ad hoc, back of the napkin fashion. At town hall events, Smith has also talked about provincial policing service ambitions and said she's waiting to pass controversial transgender policies before allowing into her caucus Jennifer Johnson. Johnson is an Independent legislature member. She was originally a UCP candidate in last year's election and won her seat, but was never allowed to sit in the UCP caucus after she made disparaging comments about transgender youth. Smith has said her government hopes to pass legislation in the fall that will require parental consent on pronoun changes in schools, limit youth transgender medical care, and ban transgender athletes from female sports. Smith told reporters Tuesday that when it comes to letting Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson into UCP caucus, no decision has been made. "I hope (she will) be able to provide some clarity about where she stands on these issues and be able to provide some comfort that she's going to govern for all of her constituents," Smith said. When asked if the town hall policy announcements are happening because Smith is keen to curry favour with her party's right-wing base ahead of a November leadership review, Smith said Albertans shouldn't be surprised at what she is proposing because it is grounded in "solid conservative principles. "I'm bringing forward good policy. We are conservatives, and we intend to govern as conservatives, and conservatives care about family. They care about protecting kids, they care about the economy, they care about making sure that we're making good investment decisions. They care about health-care reform," she said. Alberta conservatives have been known to topple their own leaders internally, including former UCP premier Jason Kenney. Kenney garnered just over 51 per cent approval in a party review vote in 2022, prompting him to step down ahead of a leadership race that Smith eventually won.

The premier's recent statements have sparked criticism from some opposition politicians and commentators who argue that Smith is prioritizing her own political survival over the needs of all Albertans. They contend that her approach undermines public trust and accountability, as it effectively allows for the shaping of policy behind closed doors without meaningful public consultation. Critics also point to the potential for unintended consequences as a result of policy decisions made without the benefit of broader public input and feedback. Others, however, support Smith's approach, arguing that it is important for her to connect directly with her party's base and ensure that her policies are aligned with their values. They view her frequent engagement with party members as a positive step towards greater accountability and transparency, as it allows for direct feedback and input on important issues.

The debate over Smith's approach to policy making highlights the ongoing tension between the need for open and inclusive governance and the desire to ensure that the policies of a government are in line with the values of its base. As Smith continues her tour of the province, it remains to be seen how she will address these concerns and strike a balance between her commitment to her party and her responsibilities to all Albertans.